Animated display device



R. D. GREENAWALT ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE July 19, 1927.

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1,636,415 July 19 1927' R. D. GREENAWALT ANIMATED DI SPLAY DEVI CE Filed July e, 1925 5 Sheeucs-Sheet 3 Patented July 19, 1927.

unirse sTATEs PATENT orifice. f

RALPH DANIEL -GREENAWALI 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORVOF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM'T. JANE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. I

ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE;

Application filed Ji11y6, 1925.

' vdiictioiiof illustrations andthe proper display thereof. y

lt is a further object of this invention to provide a display device or sign wherein a, checkered glass screen is employed for coaction with acomposite illustration produced through the medium of a screen 4similar iii construction to the display screen.

It is further more an object of this invention to provide a display sign wherein a Y checkered display screen is used in combination with a movable illustration to produce an animatedv effect,

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of prodi'icingan animated advertising device by taking plurality of photographs of an object through a screen by shifting the illustration with respect 'to the screen for each view and finally displaying thecoinposite illustration behind a stationary screen with respect to'whicli the composite illustration is adapted to loe reciprocated.

It is an importantobject of this invention to provide an improved andsimpliiied animated display sign wherein a-composite illustration produced by means of photography tlii'ough a checkered negative plate is movably associated with a framed checkered `plate or scr-een to give an animated appearance to the photographed object without requiring` change in the position of a person viewing the sign.

T Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent fromwthe Serial No. 41,727.'

disclosures in the speciiicatioii and the accompanying drawings'.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fullydescribed. Y

On the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates afront elevation ofy an improved display device embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view ot `the device including the operating mechaiiisms Figure is an enlarged vertical section on the line III-III of Figure l.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section of the device taken onA the line lV-IV 0f i Figure 1.1 i

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevation .of the operating cam taken on` the line V-V of Figure 4. i

Figure 6 illustrates a fragmentary port-ioii of the checkered display screen forming 4partrof the invention.

Figure 7 isa fragmentary portion of a checkered negative platethrough which the objectto be photographed can be seen.

' f Figure 8 is a view of the composite photograph. l

Figure 9 is a fragmentary portion of a vmodified form of negative plate permitting three views of the objectv to be' taken. y

A.Figure l0 isa fragmentaryportionJ of `a composite photograph embracing three difsok fereiitviews as represented by the rectangular portions. c c

Figure ll is an enlarged vertical section of ainodiiied form ofthe display device.

.Figure l2 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on line XllfsXIl of Figure 11.

vAs shown on the drawings:

c The reference numerall indicates a dis `play casing or frame providedwith aniniier Yperipheralflangevor head 2 affording a i'ecess or groove 3 within which a checkered display screen 4 is adapted to be seated. The displayscreen 4 preferably constructedl of glass to afford a plurality of black or Vopaque squares alternating with rows 4of white or siev C il

transparent squares, as clearly illustrated in Figure 6.

The display frame 1 has the rear portion thereof constructed to afford a pocket 5 open at the upper portion of the frame. rlhe pocket 5 is partially formed by means of a bach plate or mat (5 which is secured to the back of the frame 1 by screws orother suitable retaining means. The back plate (Slis provided with a large central opening 7. Mov-ably seated within the pocket 5 is a shiftable carrier plate 8, the front face of which `is recessed to permita composite.

photograph 9 to be seated therein. A`liner or spacing mat 10 is positioned between the inner face of the display screen 4 and the marginal front face of the shiftable carrier plate `8. The top and bottom faces of the carrier plate8 are provided with grooves or ball races 11 within which bearing balls 12 are adapted to run. The lower set of bear ing balls 12 is also adapted to run in a ball race or groove 13 provided in the lower rear portion of the frame 1. The ripper bearing balls 12 are adapted to project into a ball race or groove 14 provided in the lower face of a retainingibar 15 adapted to seat in the upper portion of the frame recess 5 between the iframe 1 and the rear plate G. The bar 15 is provided with a plurality of pockets or recesses for holding springs 16 which act to resiliently hold the bar in contact with the upper bearing balls 12 thereby also resiliently holding the carrier plate 8 in position. A retaining plate 17 is removably secured in place upon the upper face of the frame l by means of retaining screws 18 or other suitable means. One end of the retaining plate 17 is provided with a curved slot 19 to permit the retaining plate, to be swung into and out of closed position when the retaining screws are released.

Secured on the back of the carrier plate 8 is a block 2O which supports a pin .21. The pin 21'projects into a cam groove 22 provided within a cam member 23 supported on a shaft 24v positioned at the rear of the frame 1 and supported in place by anysuitable means. YMounted on the outer end of the shaft 24 is a worm gear 25 which is in mesh with a worm 26 carried on one end of an intermediate shaft 27. A worin gear 28 is mounted on the other end of the intermediate shaft 27 and is in mesh with a worm 29 mounted on the projecting end of a motor shaft 30 driven by a motor 31. The worm gears 25 and 28 together with the worms 26 and 29 affordv a speed reduction mechanism Abetween the driving motor 31 and the control cam 23. It will, of course, be understood that any other suitable driving, mech# anism may be used for operating theV control cam 23. A

Figure 7 illustrates a fragmentary portion 0f an intermediate plate 35 preferably constructed of glass and being provided with a plurality of crossed rows of staggered opaque or black squares 32 separated by transparent or white squares 33. The article 34 having the configuration of an arrow is visible through the transparent squares of the intermediate plate 35 and represents the article which is to be photographed tor display purposes in the frame 1, as hereinafter more fully described.

The intermediate plate 35 is adapted to be positioned between a camera and the object to, be photographed to permit the production of the view 36 of the object on the photograph 9 as shown in Figure 8. After one yph'otovgraph of the object has been taken, the checkered intermediate plate 35 is shifted or moved a distance corresponding to the width of one of its squares7 after which the object 34 is moved into another position and a second: photograph is taken, resulting in the view 37 o n the photograph lt will thus be noted that a composite photograph 9 is produced with` the views of said photograph taken after the intermediate plate has been shifted one square from the position it was in when the first view of the object was taken. In a similar manner a photograph of a person. may be taken with said person having for example, a smiling expression in one View, and a second photograph taltenon the same plate with said person having a sad or scowling expression.

Figure 9 illustrates a fragmentary portion of an'intermediate plate 38 wherein the dark portions are twice the width of the transparent or white portions. The intermediate platel 38 so constructed permits the coinpositel photograph 39 to be produced as illustrated inA Figure 10w ith said composite photograph having three diii'erent photographie views of an object to be displayed with said various yviews beingvr illustrated by the different sectioned rectangular portions. It will of course, be understood that when an intermediate plate 38 as illustrated in Figure 9 is used `in the production of the composite photograph that a corresponding display plate or screen must be used in the display frame 1 in place of; the display screen 4. It will thus be seen that a display or advertising device may be produced wherein the composite photograph 9 may have two or morephotographs vthereon covering` the particular object which to be displayed with an animated eifeet in the frame 1.

Figures 1l 'and 12 illustrate a modified form of the display ,device embracing a display frame 40 adapted to hold a checkered display plate or screen 41 in front of a1novable composite photograph 42 carried 'in a shiftable frame 43 supported on bearing balls 44. A spring impelled bar 45 is posi- Cfr tioned Within the frame 1 and is held in place by means of a retaining plate 46. A flange 47 is integrally formed on the shiftable frame 43 and carries a pinv 48 adapted to project into'a control cam 49. The control cam 49 is adapted to be operated by means of a remote control or driving mech.-` anism through a flexible driving chain or conductor positioned Within a conduit- 51. Secured on the back of the shiftable frame 43 is a hood or housing 52 Within which is mounted an electric light 53 andareflector 54. lA cord connects the light 53 With a suitable source of electrical energy.

The operation is as follows:

This -inventioncovers an improved method of producing an animated display device as Well as the apparatus for displayngthe advertising medium in such a manner that the composite photograph of the advertising medium will have an animated appearance when vievved by a person through the display plate or screen of the device.

The improved method consists of disposing a checkered intermediate plate lbetween a camera and an object to be photographed to permit one View of the 'object to be taken on a negative in the camera after which the intermediate plate 35 is shifted one square before a second photograph ofthe object ig taken Withfsaid object being in a different position from that in which it was first photographed. The negative plate withinrthe camera will thus have tvvo different views of the object, namely the views 36 and 37 as illustrated in Figure 8 after Which the'negative plate is developed in the regular manner, and a positive photograph 9'1nade of the same thereby producing a compositev photograph or one covering a pluralityof eheekcredviews of the object. Afterthe composite photograph 9 has `been prepared, the photograph is mounted in the shiftable frame 8, which is then placed Within the display frame 1 behind a checkered display plate or screen 4 constructed with rows of staggered squares similar to the construction of the intermediate plate spring controlled retaining bar 15 and the retaining plate 17 are then put into position as illustrated in Figure 3 and the pin 21 is engaged in the cam groove 22 of the cam 23.

The device isnoW ready to be operated Vto afford an animated advertising or 'display devicevvhich when operated by the motor 31 causes the cam to coact with the pin 21 to impart a reciprocating motion to the shiftable carrier plate 8 Which holds the eomposite photograph 9. The shiftable carrier plate is shifted back and forth a distance corresponding to the Width of one of the squares of the display plate or screen 4 so that first one view of the article on the The photograph 9 is visible through the trans-V parent squares of the display screen 4 and then the second view of the object, so that the resultant effect produced by a person looking at the display sign is that of an animated or moving object. A moving` picture is thus adapted to bedisplayed in the frame 1 through the display screen 4 to a person standing in front of the advertising device Without making it necessary for the person to change his position with respect 'w to the advertising sign toreceive the desired moving eiiiect'of the article or object which is being displayed. Y

It will thus be seen that an advertising device is produced wherein a checkered co1nposite photograph is iirst made after Which the checkered composite photograph is mounted Within a display frame behind a stationary checkered display screen-.with respect to Which the checkered composite photograph is adapted to have relative,

movement, causing the objectk vdhich has been. kphotogralilied to have an animated effect when view-ed byL a person through the display screen. The animated effect of the object is clearly discernible in the day time Without the use of illuminating means but if desired. may be used in the dark in its modifiedvform as illustrated in Figures 11 `and '12, wherein an illuminating means is transparent squares arranged in a manner illustrated in Figure 9 tovpermit ay consecutive Vdisplay ofthe various vievvs of the ob- -jectr to take place through the group of transparent squares of lthe display screen so that the desired animated leifeet or moving picture may be viewed by a person look- I am avvarethat many .changes may be made, and numerousldetails of construction play plate or screen having the opaque and ,105

may he varied through a Widerange Without departii'ig from theprinciples of this invention, and I therefore do' not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior' art.

' l claim as my invention:

l. An animated picture display device comprisino' a frame, a display plate mounted therein having stag-gered rows of opaque and transparent squares, a carrier plate mounted 'in said frame, a composite checkered .photograph supported on said carrier plate behind said displ y plate, hall bearing supports for sai-d carrier plate, spring `cont-rolled means for resiliently holding said carrier plate in position Within said frame, 'and driving means connected with. said carrier plate for moving vthe sam-e relative to said display plate to gire-the objecten said composite photograph an animated appearance When viexvd through the transparent squares of said displayplate. i

Q. A display device com arising a Jframe,=a v`glass display plate carried in said' frame having a plurality of staggered rofxvs of black squares thereon leaving plurality of rows of staggered transparent squares, a. carrier plate in said .tra-ine, hearing means for supporting` the saine, mea-ns v`for resiliently holding said carrier plate in yenga(fo/"einent with said bearing means, a checkered photograph supported in said carrier plate, and compris- Y ing a plurality of superimposed views of an article taken in 'different positions, `and .driving means connected with said carrier plate adapted to transmit a `reciprocating movement to said carrier plate and said photograph to give the article photographed au animated appearance when viewed f hy a person standing in 'front of the device and looking through the transparent squares oi said display plaie L). A display device con'iprising a frame, a glass screen' supported thereinv and having a plurality of opaque staggered squares arranged thereon, carrier plate mounted in said frame, resilient means for holding the saine in position, a checkeredphotograph supported in said carrier plate, and ,compris ing a photograph embracing a plurality of superimposed .dinmerent views of an article to he displayed, said views all being taken through a .screen similar in construction to the display sereen, cam means connected with said carrier plate, and .driving masas for operating said cam means tol iin-part a reciprocating movement to said carrier plate, and photograph, to give the article on said photograph an animated appearance Ywhen viewed Athrough said `display screen.

l. `A display device comprising a iframe, a .checkered screen supported therein, a carrier plate movahly mounted in said frame, bearing means lor supporting the saine, a spring impelled bar for resiliently holding said car- V rier plate in position, ,a checkered composite photograph mounted in said carrier plate, and' movable therewith relative 4to said disp y screen, driving means connected with said carrier plate :to i-n'ipart a movement thereto, a hood mounted on said traine, and :illuminating means ,in said hood for illuininating the composite photographto give the article on said photogrziph an anin'iated appearance when-viewed through said display screen when .the carrier plate is in operation.

1n testimony whereof l. Yhave hereunto subscribed my name.

RALPH `minimo GREENAWALT. 

